In spite of being among the largest campgrounds in the world, Fort Wilderness is an insanely overlooked secret in certain ways. We can clearly talk about value, but there’s something so much more here. This is a place that we come to be part of the Disney magic, but not to lose our souls. As a child, I spent many spring breaks camping in Fort Wilderness, creating the kind of memories with other kids that are timeless. Yet, as I grew up, I spent more and more vacation hours within the Magic Kingdom and the other parks.
Time and time again, I found myself drawn like a magnet back to the wooded paradise across Bay Lake. Then one day, I mindfully escaped the castles and the sweaty lines and the Mickey-shaped confections and made like a bandit for the Green Flag boat. I left half the family there, and just walked out (we reunited later). Once Clementine Beach was in view, my shoulders relaxed, my face felt five years younger, and I realized I might never return. Nowadays, we usually limit our park days to two in a week (and sometimes, I don’t show up for much of that). And guess what? No longer are we having the worst arguments that we ever had during our vacation (admit it – you do, too). No longer are we Grumpy and Dopey and Angry, but rather Happy and Refreshed and Peaceful.
nature-deficit may be what ails us
We are simply overloaded with information and technology. It’s convenient and wonderful, but it’s also addictive and mind-numbing. And it keeps us in the cloud and away from simplicity, the outdoors, humbling perspective and the very essence of life. Researchers now confirm what many of us already know from experience (or from reading the naturalist philosophies of Thoreau or Emerson). Spending time in nature significantly lowers our stress and enhances our well-being.
“I took a walk in the woods, and came out taller than the trees,” Thoreau wrote. What better gift to give our children than such a deep and natural confidence? Much more recently, the term “nature-deficit-disorder” was coined by author Richard Louv in his 2005 book Last Child in the Woods. Louv’s groundbreaking work was based on the premise that we are confining children to the indoors more than ever before. This may be due to fear of injury or abduction, or to a child’s developed presence for electronics. Louv uses scientific and anecdotal evidence to link the lack of regularly experiencing nature with ADHD, stress, anxiety, and obesity.
I believe Walt Disney realized the brilliance of having a campground on WDW property, as he was a naturalist himself. We all love the excitement and fun of the parks, but we also know that cluttered feeling of exhaustion and angst after having spent too much time and too much money there. Fort Wilderness is our place to connect, to reconnect, and to experience a much deeper euphoria.
a value that money can’t buy
What the campground provides us is a masterpiece that is both man-made and God-given. This is why it is always on the list of America’s top campgrounds. And this is why it costs more than most campgrounds do.
But, there is so much money to be saved here. Compare seven nights camping at Fort Wilderness with seven night at the Polynesian or even Art of Animation. Fort Wilderness is the only place in Disney World that you can spend a week for under $500, and the best place (by far) to find a gentle and peaceful existence after hours of heat and stress.
planning your trip to the fort
Whether you choose a cabin or bring your own RV, trailer, or tent, the mass quantity of Disney-style amenities (some that are quite unknown) make it true princess-worthy glamping. At around 750 acres, Fort Wilderness is about five times the size of the Magic Kingdom! This means that where you stay matters. A week on Loop 100 will be a very, very different experience than a week on 2100. And yes, your odds of getting the loop (and sometimes even the site) are not too shabby if you know the system.
Keep in mind that Fort Wilderness will turn 50 years old in November 2021. For those of us who spent holidays there back in the day, there are many parts that we desperately miss (the railroad, the canoe races, and that ol’ timey swimming hole – River Country), but every trip brings new surprises and experiences. The funny thing about the Fort is that you can have an unforgettable trip there without ever even going to the parks at all.
Here are my most important tips and secrets to make your Fort Wilderness adventure a truly magical one:
- Pick and request the right loop for you. This is listed first for a reason.
- Higher priced spots aren’t necessarily always worth more.
- Getting around in Ft. Wilderness means focusing on the journey. Bring a bike and some walking shoes. Rent a golf cart for a day if you can. And you can never spend enough time on a horse, right?
- Eat one Disney meal a day, but just one. You can make your own Disney food at your campsite that is 10 percent of cost and often twice as yummy and nutritious. And with a bit of creativity, you can imagineer your own experience that rivals the Disney fun (check out this Tonga Toast recipe and how we made our own Stitch & Lilo character breakfast).
- Do not go to the parks more than once every other day, Even if your kids are begging. Even if you have an annual pass. You can spend all week in Fort Wilderness, and have a different experience every hour. Princess living is not all about the rides (or the lines). Take time to just be.
- Bring your precious pet along. Little Belle will love her walks in Ft. Wilderness, and Best Friends Pet Resort (less than 4 minutes away and on Disney property) is so full of energy and good-looking mutts that she may not want to leave (and they stay open til after parks close).
- Bring or download books. There are so many royally good spots in Fort Wilderness that beckon for lounging and reading, including the pools, your hammock or lawn chair, the beach on Bay Lake.
- There’s some wild things to do in Fort Wilderness that go beyond the awesome swimming pools and HoopDeDoo Musical Revue. This place is bucket-list heaven for cool princesses (and princes).
